What would Jesus say today?

Jesus welcomed and protected children, seeing them as precious and worthy of care regardless of their background. This speaks directly to young people standing up for their peers and to the need to protect vulnerable children from fear and family separation. Jesus's priority was always the welfare of the vulnerable, not the enforcement of earthly jurisdictions.

Alex Pretti dedicated his life to healing and helping veterans, embodying the peacemaker spirit Jesus blessed. His death at the hands of those meant to serve justice represents a tragic inversion of God's call to protect and honor those who care for others. Jesus reminds us that those who work for healing and peace reflect God's own nature.

Jesus identifies himself with the stranger and foreigner, teaching that how we treat immigrants reflects how we treat Christ himself. These Haitian workers came as strangers and gave their service to care for the sick and vulnerable. Casting them out after they've served our needs violates Jesus's clear command to welcome and honor those who come from other lands.

Jesus began his ministry by announcing his mission to bring relief to the poor and freedom to the oppressed. Healthcare access is a matter of life and liberation—without it, people remain trapped in suffering and poverty. Jesus's priority for those who lack resources challenges us to ensure healing is available to all, not just those who can afford it.

Jesus defended his ministry to the marginalized and vulnerable by emphasizing that healing is for those who need it most, not those deemed most worthy. When fear prevents the sick from seeking care, it contradicts Christ's mission entirely. Healthcare spaces should be sanctuaries of healing, not places where the vulnerable fear for their freedom.

Jesus taught that caring for children is sacred work that reflects our relationship with God himself. Those who provide childcare are doing Christ's work by welcoming and nurturing the vulnerable. Policies that destabilize this care system harm both the caregivers and the children they serve, contradicting Jesus's call to honor those who serve the youngest among us.

Jesus spoke with fierce protectiveness about those who harm children, warning of severe consequences for leading young people astray. The revelation that companies knowingly debated whether to help or "prey on" children reveals precisely the kind of exploitation Jesus condemned. His words challenge us to protect children from those who would sacrifice their wellbeing for profit.

In a world torn by conflict, Jesus elevates peacemaking as divine work that reflects God's own character. These negotiations, however imperfect, represent humanity's attempt to choose dialogue over destruction. Jesus calls us to work tirelessly for peace, recognizing that every life saved through negotiation honors the God who created them.

Jesus criticized religious leaders who focused on minor disputes while ignoring massive injustices. This sewage crisis—affecting drinking water and public health—demands urgent action, yet political blame games take precedence over protecting people and creation. Jesus calls us to focus on what truly matters: caring for God's creation and the wellbeing of communities, not partisan point-scoring.

Jesus offered compassion and rest to those carrying heavy burdens, responding with gentleness rather than judgment. Young people struggling with their identity carry immense weight, and their families seek caring support. Jesus's example calls us to respond to those in distress with compassion and gentleness, creating safe spaces for healing rather than adding to their burdens through rejection.